ORIGINAL: oldelkhunter
The round is adequate for deer. But definitely not nominal. If you are not recoil shy then why shoot the son when you can shoot the dad(30-06). The recoil from a hot 120 grain pill is not going to be very different than a load from a 150 grain 30-06. There is more recoil difference form the type of firearm used, rather than the difference between the caliber's.
We are going to have toagree to disagree there ...I can't even fathom how light the recoil is on a 25-06 . My longest 2 shots are 200 yards and 170 yards on a whitetail deer.I'll bet most average 30 yards or even less as I am predominately a woods hunter .My longest shot on a mule deer was 350 yards. It's also a dual duty coyote rifle and I can't imagine hunting coyotes with a 30-06
If we did not disagree then it would not be any fun. I did not even mention the 125 grain pill in the 30-06. And I just do not believe there is a lot of recoil difference, especially if you shoot the 125 from the 30-06, and the 120 grain pill in the 25-06.
And as far as Coyote's is concerned, I thought the post was about deer??? And I would also think that the 30-06 is a better pelt rifle??? If compared to the 25-06. I know a few pelt hunter's who like the larger caliber's for collecting pelt's. I would think a 25-06 would tear a pelt up??? Tom.